Chapter One Hundred and Two: A Formidable Rival, Shen Shi

After hearing Qin Mengchun, Yang Yao nodded and looked toward Guo Ting. When she saw the other girl give her a reassuring signal, she knew the second round of the arena contest was secure.

No matter what happened after the second round, she would be chosen for the guard team. A bright future lay right before her eyes, and yet Yang Yao could summon no joy at all.

Seeing that her spirits were low, Qin Mengchun rose, went over, and took the seat beside her, soothing her in a gentle voice. “You have already come this far. You might as well accept it properly. The treatment members of the guard team receive is far, far better than what you have now.”

Qin Mengchun only regretted that she had never learned martial arts and could rely only on Guo Ting.

But Yang Yao was different. Though her skill was not especially strong, she still had some foundation. Added to that, with help from behind the scenes, she would certainly make it into the guard team.

Even if she had to step over the body of a former best friend to get there.

“But...” Thinking of Shen Mei, who was still in the hospital and whose condition was unknown, Yang Yao still felt a pang of guilt.

“No buts. Since the two of you have already gone your separate ways, just think of this as her last act of help to you.” Qin Mengchun knew what Yang Yao wanted to say, but this was not the time to dwell on such things.

Tears had already begun to well in Yang Yao’s eyes, yet she did not dare look toward Guo Ting and could only bear it silently.

She had chosen this road herself. Regret would change nothing now.

“I believe you will win the second round,” Qin Mengchun said softly, patting Yang Yao’s shoulder in an attempt to give her warmth and encouragement.

Yang Yao knew Qin Mengchun was no good person, yet at this moment, she was the only one showing concern for her.

“Thank you, Mengchun. If I can get into the guard team, I’ll help you whenever you need me.” Yang Yao quickly wiped the tears from her face so Guo Ting would not notice, then leaned close to Qin Mengchun’s ear and whispered.

A trace of contempt flashed through Qin Mengchun’s eyes, though it vanished at once, replaced by a falsely warm smile.

Yang Yao naturally did not notice the change in her expression. She took a deep breath and quietly waited for her match to begin.

Qin Mengchun and Guo Ting both nodded. With the arrangements already made from within, there was no need for her to be nervous.

She would surely win.

Because behind Guo Ting stood her uncle, Guo Jun.

He was the supreme authority over the entire safe-zone guard team, and no one dared show him disrespect.

“The one you’ll be facing should be that Jiang Miaomiao,” Qin Mengchun murmured at Yang Yao’s ear.

Yang Yao followed her gaze toward Jiang Miaomiao’s side, just in time to see Jiang Miaomiao and Azhi talking about something, both of them laughing brightly.

At the same time, Yang Yao noticed Qin Sheng, who sat with calm composure, watching the matches on stage.

Unease stirred in her heart.

“Would Qin Sheng notice?” Yang Yao lowered her voice even further. Qin Sheng was not someone to be trifled with, and she was also cautious by nature. No one knew exactly how the drug had been administered.

Mentioning Qin Sheng seemed to draw even more disdain and scorn onto Qin Mengchun’s face.

“Relax. She won’t notice, and she can’t possibly notice.”

Qin Mengchun let out a contemptuous snort. Her gaze skimmed over Qin Sheng. She had originally wanted to give that drug to Qin Sheng, but unfortunately Qin Sheng came from a family of medicine; she would surely detect it.

So there was no choice but to let her good friend Jiang Miaomiao bear it in her place.

Good sister, I’ll make you watch with your own eyes as your best friend is beaten on the stage until she cannot even stand, while you, with all your ability, can only stare helplessly.

Watching your best friend suffer must feel terribly powerless, mustn’t it?

The corners of Qin Mengchun’s mouth curved slightly, her eyes full of cruelty.

“In that case, I’m relieved...” Yang Yao breathed out and slowly closed her eyes. She was not very interested in the other matches. Since her own victory was certain, there was no need to invest any more emotion in it.

Qin Mengchun finally saw Yang Yao return to her usual state and smiled with satisfaction.

Only that smile held no warmth, only calculation.

She did not know that Qin Sheng in front had seen everything clearly.

Qin Sheng understood all too well who stood behind this scheme.

He cast a cold glance at Guo Ting, who was pretending to watch the match on stage with keen interest, and just then Guo Ting happened to glance back at him.

“Brother Shen Shi, that person’s boxing is amazing...” Guo Ting had not even finished speaking when she met Shen Shi’s cold eyes. Those eyes were so icy it was as though, the very next second, he would push her into a bottomless abyss without hesitation.

Shen Shi frowned slightly and turned his head away as if he did not care.

“Brother Shen Shi, I know you don’t like me. You only stay with me because of my uncle...” Guo Ting seemed frightened by his gaze, and tears began to fall before she could control them. Her exquisite makeup made her look heartbreakingly pitiable.

But Shen Shi seemed already used to it.

“Tingting, all right now, don’t cry. Let’s watch the match together, shall we?” A trace of irritation was clearly visible in Shen Shi’s eyes, though he hid it again a moment later.

What Guo Ting said was indeed what he truly thought.

But now was not the time.

He could not let Guo Jun’s side grow suspicious. He could only suppress his disgust and coax Guo Ting.

Guo Ting naturally fell for this easily. She quickly wiped away her tears and nodded obediently.

“I’ll listen to you, Brother Shen Shi. Then after the matches, come have a meal with me. My uncle has already invited you many times...” Not only did she fail to restrain herself, she even used the moment to make an excessive request.

Shen Shi gave a silent sigh, nodded, and said nothing more, staring stiffly toward the arena.

Seeing that Shen Shi had agreed, Guo Ting nearly laughed out loud in triumph.

She knew tears were useful. As long as she cried, Shen Shi would do everything in his power to make her happy.

At the thought of this, Guo Ting’s cheeks flushed faintly. Though her eyes remained on the stage, her mind had already wandered elsewhere.

Behind her, Qin Mengchun kept watching whether Shen Shi and Guo Ting said even one more word to each other.

Seeing their intimate exchange just now, her eyes darkened with unwillingness, and her hands clenched tightly.

While Guo Ting’s thoughts were in disarray, Qin Sheng kept his attention fixed on the arena.

Having made it through the second round, Qin Sheng naturally had to pay closer attention to the stronger competitors in the third.

For now, everyone’s strength was about equal; Qin Sheng did not see anyone particularly outstanding.

The only exception was Shen Shi.

Qin Sheng lowered her gaze and puffed out her cheeks in thought, wondering what expression Shen Shi would wear if he discovered that she was Qin Sheng.

Truth be told, she was quite curious.

After all, their bitter rival had overheard his conversation with Guo Jun.

Qin Sheng knew very well that she and Shen Shi would one day have a real match, perhaps not far off, and even the destination had already been decided.

The zombie forest in the third round.

With only Shen Shi as a true rival, Qin Sheng was, to be honest, somewhat troubled.

Before she could continue thinking of countermeasures, Azhi beside her nudged the distracted Qin Sheng.

“Hm?”

“Chu Xingyu is about to compete,” Azhi reminded her.

Chu Xingyu took a deep breath, rose to his feet, and looked at Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng said nothing. The two of them exchanged a tacit nod, and then Chu Xingyu walked toward the stage.

“I hope Xingyu can win!” Jiang Miaomiao clasped her hands together and murmured softly, as if making a wish.

Azhi could not help laughing when he saw that, and jokingly said, “Chu Xingyu has a pretty high chance of winning. If you ask me, it’d be more like wishing for me to win.”

Jiang Miaomiao smiled helplessly, about to tease Azhi back when a sudden pain in her stomach made her frown in discomfort.

Azhi immediately noticed her unease and leaned over anxiously. “What’s wrong? Feeling unwell?”

Qin Sheng also looked over at Jiang Miaomiao with concern.

The pain had been sudden and brief; after it passed, Jiang Miaomiao no longer felt anything.

“I’m fine. It must be that the water I drank just now was a little too cold.” Jiang Miaomiao shook her head, telling Qin Sheng and Azhi not to worry.

After hearing her say she was all right, Azhi patted his own chest in relief and could not help blurting out, “You scared me. I thought you were going to be like Shen Mei...”

Jiang Miaomiao laughed and interrupted him. “Impossible. I’ll just go to the restroom and I’ll be fine.”

“Then shall I go with you?”

“Number twenty-seven, Chu Xingyu wins!”

“Next up, the match will be between number eighty-nine and number one hundred!”

Jiang Miaomiao had just been about to nod when she heard the announcement on stage that Azhi’s match was about to begin.

“You go compete. I don’t feel that eager to go anyway.” Jiang Miaomiao rubbed her stomach, and since the discomfort had mostly faded, she reassured Azhi not to worry.

“Really all right now? Then I’m going.”

Jiang Miaomiao nodded.

Azhi rose, took a deep breath, and repeatedly encouraged himself inwardly before striding toward the arena.

He carried himself with the air of a hero going to a doomed battle.

“Still feeling bad?” Qin Sheng sat down beside Jiang Miaomiao and asked softly.

Jiang Miaomiao shook her head. “I’m fine, Shengsheng. Maybe the water I drank was too cold earlier, but I’ve recovered now.”

“Should I get you some medicine for diarrhea?”

Qin Sheng had just lifted a hand, preparing to reach into her pocket and take out some medicine from her space to prevent diarrhea, when Jiang Miaomiao stopped her.

“I’m really fine, Shengsheng. No need to trouble yourself.”

Seeing that Jiang Miaomiao was in good condition and not affected at all, Qin Sheng nodded and went along with her wish.

Chu Xingyu’s match also went smoothly, and he successfully took the win. Qin Sheng and Jiang Miaomiao were not especially worried about Chu Xingyu, but Azhi had rather a tough match ahead.

The two of them once again turned their gaze to the stage at the same time.

Azhi had already prepared himself to take the beating.

“Ready? The match officially begins...”

Azhi had prayed countless times to meet an opponent who was easy to talk to, but he had never imagined that he would run into a musclebound giant.

The man’s head alone seemed worth two of Azhi’s.

He seemed equally certain of victory and wore a smug, triumphant look.

He even blew a lewd whistle at Azhi, raking him from head to toe with a strange, suggestive gaze.

Arrogant, contemptuous, and indecent.

Azhi clenched his fists and ground his teeth tightly.